“Tiny, I—” He leaped to his feet and bolted out of the galley.“What is the meaning of this?”he demanded.
She angled her head to listen, picking up the gentle cadence of Ivoyan steps.
“It is procedure to clear a ship post-journey,” a man said.
She inched to the doorway, many tall orange blurs coming into view.
“Including taking the human.”A man stepped forward, acting very much like the leader of this group.
“No,” Nenn growled.“She stays with me.”
“You have no authority here, Maed,” the man snapped.
Tiny narrowed on the Ivoyans, willing her eyes to pick up details.Pain pinged in her temple at her futile efforts, forcing her to duck behind Nenn.One moment, he was before her, the next his shadow and warmth was gone.She gasped when something heavy rested on her foot.
“Nenn,” she cried out, dropping beside him on the floor.
She ran her hands over his body as familiar as her own.He didn’t respond to her nudges and pleas, but his breathing was regular like he slept.No part of him was wet or sticky, so no wounds needed immediate attention, but unconsciousness could hide a life-threatening injury.
“What did you do?”she screamed at the leader.“Give me a med-thingy.”She wiggled her fingers, praying the idiot listened.
“He is well, death dealer,” he spat.
Death dealer?She stilled, ice sliding over her and sending a shiver across her body.Aehort had said there might be some resistance.He’d also said she had allies.But with him not on the ship and Nenn knocked out, she was alone.She stroked his face and pressed a kiss to his slack jaw.He’d tried to shield her, the sweet man.Tears slipped free.Whatever happens, right?
“I love you,” she whispered, resting her temple on his right pec.
With a deep breath, she pushed to her feet, locking them in place when her knees trembled.‘Just stand,’ Ulvus had said.
“Come with me,” the leader said.
She snorted.“When I can’t see?”
“Your species is weak,” he snapped.
She wanted to remind the asshat that one human corpse killed his people, but self-preservation prevailed.So, she stood there, unmoving.Maybe if he grew impatient, he’d abandon her and Nenn.With a bruising grip on her upper arm, he dragged her across Nenn’s sprawled body, forcing her to jump.She stumbled then caught her balance.He didn’t release her, making her jog behind him—his stride too long and fast for her.
Bright light made her flinch, but being in their sunlight was short-lived.He escorted her onto a smaller ship, then shoved her into a seat.
“What do you want with her?”Ulvus demanded.
She slumped.His presence brought her some relief though why he was there had her frowning.
“She is not of your concern,” the Ivoyan man said.
“If your intention is to harm her, then yes, I will concern myself.”
“You would die for this…shit?”The man lowered his voice, now filled with malice.
Ulvus’s silence summoned a fresh wave of tears.She wanted to rail at him to find honor in the moment, but the lump in her throat burned so much, she struggled to speak.
The door shut, and the ship took off, slamming her back.
Ulvus clasped her hand and gave it a squeeze.Her breath hitched.What does that mean?He’s sorry?Not to worry?She stared at his hand warming hers and swallowed a gasp.His skin was orange, his veins raised.She couldseethem.Am I hallucinating?Have I finally lost my mind?She swallowed hard and focused on their companions.Tall, long-limbed, and long-fingered aliens held odd-looking weapons.They wore blue overalls, and some sort of a visor hid their eyes.
“Aehort?”she whispered, hoping his influence lingered in her mind.That would explain her ‘restored’ eyesight.
“He is not here, Tiny,” Ulvus said.“He cannot help you.”
